WWF-Australia - for a living planet

Climate Change

The world is heating up at a rapid rate

Average temperatures on Earth have warmed by about 0.76 of a degree Celsius over the last 100 years, with most of this warming occurring in the past 20 years.

This temperature rise appears small but small increases in temperature translate into big changes for the world's climate.

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) attributes most of this temperature rise to human activities that release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Stay under a global average temperature increase of 2 degrees

More hotter days, more severe storms, droughts and fire, and higher sea levels are expected under climate change. This could threaten lives, industries and jobs, sustainable agricultural production, fresh water supplies and the survival of native species and ecosystems.

Scientists and some governments agree that an average global warming of 2 degrees or more above the pre-industrial level would result in dangerous and irreversible climate change with dramatic social, economic and environmental impacts.

Australians are big polluters

Australians are the highest per-capita greenhouse gas polluters in the developed world. This is due to the fact that we generate electricity largely by burning high-emission coal and we use energy inefficiently.

Australia's total emissions are similar in magnitude to those of the United Kingdom and France, yet those countries have much larger populations.

How will we stay under 2 degrees?

WWF-Australia believes that in order to stay below a 2 degree increase the next Australian Government must implement a national plan to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. This plan must:

Industrial Constraints and Dislocations to Significant Emissions Reductions by 2050

Industrial Constraints and Dislocations to Significant Emissions Reductions by 2050

Details how Australia is facing critical climate change skills shortages to deliver sufficient reduction cuts, and also pushes the need for complimentary ETS measures such as a Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Continue reading 'Industrial Constraints and Dislocations to Significant Emissions Reductions by 2050'

Oct 09

Antarctic penguins under pressure

Half to three-quarters of major Antarctic penguin colonies face severe decline or extinction if global temperatures are allowed to climb by more than 2°C, according to a report released today by WWF.

Sep 30

Small cuts not enough to halt climate change

WWF-Australia today urged the Federal Government to take decisive action and adopt Professor Ross Garnaut's recommendation that Australia should aim to achieve an emissions target of 450ppm CO2 equivalent by the year 2100.

Sep 18

WWF stands by Alcoa scorecard rating - revises AGL rating upwards

On September 3, WWF released a Fossil Fuel Power Generator Scorecard that highlighted the major Australian power companies currently unprepared for a low carbon future.